New Zealand into Super Eights as more rain strikes

New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by seven runs on the Duckworth/Lewis method in their rain-affected World Twenty20 match on Tuesday.

Written by Press Trust of India

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Providence, Guyana:

New Zealand qualified for the second round Super Eights of the World Twenty20 with a seven-run victory over Zimbabwe in a rain-shortened match on Tuesday.

The Black Caps shot out Zimbabwe for just 84 and were then ahead of the par score they required under the Duckworth-Lewis method when rain cut short their reply at 36 for one in 8.1 overs and meant no further play was possible.

Victory meant New Zealand qualified out of Group B alongside Sri Lanka, who defeated Zimbabwe in another rain-affected match here on Monday.

Earlier, off-spinner Nathan McCullum took three wickets for 16 runs, including three for one in an over, and medium-pacer Scott Styris three for five in two overs as Zimbabwe collapsed in spectacular fashion.

"We fought back well in the middle stages with Nathan and Scott Styris," said New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, who won the toss and fielded.

"We knew it would be a difficult track to bat with Zimbabwe having so many spinners and we did well to come back in the middle overs."

In a game they had to win to have a chance of getting into the second phase, Zimbabwe - who'd beaten defending champions Pakistan and Australia in the warm-ups, - made a relatively sound start to be 58 for one in the seventh over when opener Hamilton Masakadza was run out.